Dental chair and adjustable head support mechanism therefor

ABSTRACT

A dental chair is disclosed which has an adjustable headrest incorporating a flush mounted adjustment mechanism allowing (1) adjustment about a central pivot, (2) vertical adjustment or (3) forward and rear adjustment. The dental chair also incorporates deflectable &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;wing&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; portions adjacent each of the arm supports which do not need adjustment and which allow the dentist more ready access to the patient.

lltte States Patent 1191 [111 3,85,37 Norris Jan. 7, 1975 [54] DENTALCHAIR AND ADJUSTABLE HEAD 3,627,379 12/1971 Faust 297/391 P O TMECHANISM THEREFOR 3,719,388 3/1973 Fortnan 297/410 3.729127 4/1973 Ohta297/391 {75] Inventor: Floyd E. Norris, Rcnton, Wash. [73] Assignee:Arnolds Auto Upholstery, lnc., Primary ExaminerCasmir A. NunbergSeattle, Wash. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Seed, Berry, Vernon & 1221Filed: May 18, 1973 Baynham [21] Appl. No.: 361,591 [57] ABSTRACT Adental chair is disclosed which has an adjustable [52] 11.8. C1 297/408,297/284, 229971742616 headrest incorporating a flush mounted adjustmentmechanism allowing (1) adjustment about a central;?l;:.ldC(l).f...S..E.l.n/:\h47C 1/l5 /)$f 3 ;?/%%7? Z45 pivot, (2)vertical adjustment or (3) forward and rear 5 421 adjustment. The dentalchair also incorporates deflectable wing portions adjacent each of thearm supports which do not need adjustment and which allow [56] UNITE ;;Tr ;S gZqrENTS the dentist more ready access to the patient.

3,603,642 7/1971 Laessker 297/408 4 Claims 5 Drawing Figures BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to adental chair and an improved adjustment mechanism for the headrest ofthe chair.

2. Prior Art Relating to the Disclosure Many of the chairs used bydentists and other professionals have adjustable headrest assemblieswhich are expensive to fabricate, cumbersome, inadequately adjustableand annoying to operate. It is also conventional for dental chairs toincorporate arm slings extending from the top of the back support of thechair to the arm supports, which keep the patients arms and hands closeto the body, out of the way of the technician or professional. Theslings are always slipping loose and needing adjustment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a dental chairincorporating an adjustable headrest which is vertically adjustable,adjustable about a central pivot point and adjustable both forward andrearward. The adjustable headrest comprises a support connecting to theback support of the chair at one end and to the adjustment mechanism atthe opposite end. A padded headrest includes means connecting it withthe adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism includes: (1) anelongated linking member having upper and lower, variable size jawopenings therein receiving the connecting means of the support and theheadrest; (2) a pin extending through the linking member holding theconnecting means in place; and (3.) means secured to the pin at one endcontacting a camming surface on the linking member for contracting thejaw openings about the connecting means, preventing their movement.

The invention is also directed to a dental chair including integral,deflectable wing portions extending between the arm support and the topof the back support which (I) are flexible, (2) allow the dentist ortechnician to work closer to the patient, if desired, and (3) do notneed adjustment.

The objects of this invention are: (1) to provide an improved adjustmentmechanism for the headrest of a chair which is relatively inexpensive tomanufacture, easy to operate and flush mounted to prevent interferencewith the dentist or technician and for design purposes; (2) to provide adental chair incorporating an improved, flush mounted adjustmentmechanism for a headrest; (3) to provide a dental chair incorporatingflexible, deflectable wing portions which do not need adjustment andwhich allow the operator closer access to the patient sitting in thechair; and (4) to provide a dental chair having a back support hinged tothe lower body support forward of the terminating edge of the lower bodysupport, the back support having a curved, barrel-like appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of thedental chair of the invention having a cut-away portion illustrating oneof the flexible wings of the chair;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the headrest including theadjustment mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view along section line 3-3 of FIG.2 illustrating the adjustment mechamsm;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view along section line 44 ofFIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the flexible wing portion ofthe chair.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 illustrates a perspectiveview of the dental chair of this invention having a lower floor support10, a padded lower body support ll secured to the floor support and apadded, integral back support 12 hinged at 21a to the lower body supportforward of the rear terminating edge of the lower body support II. Theframes of the lower body support Ill and back support 12 are fabricatedfrom steel plating one-eighth inch to five-sixteenths inch thicknessover which is placed padding as an outer decorative upholstery cov--ering, such as leather, naugahyde or vinyl. The back support has armsupportsl ll attached at each side. Each of the arm supports includes arigid steel frame, padding and covering similar to that of the lowerbody support and back support. Directly behind each of the arm supportsis an arcuate member 15 secured to the frame of the back support, asillustrated by FIG. l. A stiff, semi-rigid material, such as a thickplastic sheet 17, is stretched over the arcuate members and between thearm supports and the'top of the frame of the back support prior ,tocovering'of the entire chair with the outer decorativecovering, asillustrated by FIG. 5. The.

' end result is a flexible, deflectable wing portion 16 be side each armwhichdo'es not need adjustment and allows the operator ortechnician toget closer to the patient sitting in the chair, if necessary. The wingportions can be deflected inwardly. On release of the deflectionpressure, the wing portions will return to their original position dueto the stiff material extending from the top of the back support overthe arcuate portion 15 directly behind each of the arm supports 14. Therear of the back support includes a slot 18 for insertion of the adjustable headrest assembly to be discussed.

The adjustable headrest assembly is illustrated by FIGS. 2 through 4 andessentially comprises a headrest support frame 39 covered with'a paddedfront portion 40 and a padded rear portion 41 connected by an adjustmentmechanism to an elongated support plate 19. The headrest assembly isadjusted vertically relative to the back support by sliding in slot 18.The assembly is held in a desired adjustment position by a frictionclamp (not shown). The supporting frame 39 of the headrest support has acenter cut-out portion, as illustrated by FIG. 2, allowing theadjustment mechanism to be essentially flush mounted within the headrestassembly.

The adjustment mechanism comprises essentially an elongated, rectangularlinking member 2E having bore openings 22 and 23 drilled therethrough atthe upper and lower ends, respectively. Slots 24 and 25, cut in thelinkmember 21, as illustrated by FIG. 3, communicate with the boreopenings 22 and 23. The slots allow the internal diameter of the boreopenings 22 and 23 to be reduced by compression of the linking member21.. A channel 26 is bored at transverse angles through the length ofthe linking member 21 to receive pin 30. The channel intersects the boreopenings 22 and 23 and projects a small distance into the bore openings,as illustrated by FIG. 4. The bore openings 22 and 23 are fitted withpins 27 and 28, having an outer diameter slightly less than the internaldiameter of the openings 22 and 23, so that they are free to rotate inthe absence of compressive force on the elongated linking member 21,tending to reduce the internal diameter of the bore openings 22 and 23.Pin 27 consists essentially of two separate arcuate segments held inspaced relation by a rod 36 having a width less than the diameter of thepin 27. The rod 36 is secured to the segments by a pivot pin 37extending through the rod, as illustrated by FIGS. 3 and 4. The pivotpin allows the rod to pivot thereabout between the positions shown inphantom in FIG. 4. The rod 36 is connected by collars 38 to the headrestsupport frame 39. The headrest can thus be pivoted about the pivot pin37 to a desired position and locked in place, as will be described.

The lower pin 28 extends beyond the plane of the member 21 on each sideand includes a slot extending part way therethrough which receives theforks 42 of support plate 19, as illustrated by FIG. 2. The pin 28 issecured in place to the plate 19 by bolts 43.

Each of the pins 27 and 28 has a central channel 29 cut therein, asillustrated by FIG. 4, of a depth sufficient to allow pin 30 to beinserted through the channel 26. The purpose of the channels 29, incooperation with pin 30, is to secure the pins 27 and 28 in place in thelinking member. I

The pin 30, extending through channel 26 and securing the pins 27 and 28in place, has a threaded portion 31 on the lower end over which isfitted a nut 32. The nut bears against a shoulder cut in the lower endof the linking member 21. The upper end of the pin is pivotallyconnected to a cam member 34 hearing against a cam surface 33 cut in theupper end of linking member 21. The cam member 34 includes an integralhandle 35 movable between the positions illustrated by FIG. 3. In theposition shown in solid lines in FIG. 3, the pin in cooperation with thecam'surface 34 exerts a compressive force on the respective ends of thelinking member 21 compressing and closing the slots 24 and 25. As aresult the internal diameter of openings 22 and 23 is reduced so thateach frictionally engages the outer surfaces of pins 27 and 28 andprevents their rotation. When the handle 35 is moved to the positionshown in phantom in FIG. 3, the compressive force on the linking member21 is released, allowing the pins 27 and 28 to rotate freely within thebore openings 22 and 23.

The headrest portion of the adjustable headrest assembly can easily beadjusted relative to support plate 19 by moving the handle 35 to theposition shown in phantom in FIG. 3 and rotating the headrest abouteither of the upper or lower pins 27 and 28 and pivoting the headrestabout pivot pin 37 as desired. Once the desired position of the headrestis obtained, the operator presses the handle 35 down to the positionshown in solid lines in FIG. 3 to lock all the components together andprevent further rotation or movement. The headrest can be adjusted toany desired position very easily and quickly. The adjustment mechanismis flush mounted within the headrest assembly, is simple to operate andis relatively inexpensive to fabricate. The dentist or technician canadjust the patients head to any desired angle for mouth work or denturework very easily and without complication.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An adjustment mechanism linking a head support and means forattachment to the back support of a chair comprising:

an elongated linking member having two parallel annular openingsextending therethrough near each end,

slots in the linking member extending from the outer surface thereofinto communication with each of the annular openings, each of the slotsallowing the internal diameter of each of the annular openings to bereduced by compression of the linking member adjacent the slots;

an open-ended channel extending through the linking member essentiallytransverse to the axis of each of the annular openings and communicatingwith the slots and a segment of each of the annular openings;

annular pins received in each of the annular openings, each pin havingan external diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of therespective annular opening in the uncompressed state, allowing freerotation thereof, each pin having a channel extending around the outercircumference thereof;

means connecting one of the annular pins to the head support and theother annular pin to the means for attachment to the back support;

a pin extending through the open-ended channel of the linking membercommunicating with the respective channels in the annular pins to retainthe annular pins in place in the linking member;

retaining means at one end of the pin to retain the pin in place in theopen-ended channel; and

cam means connected to the opposite end of the pin for exerting tensionon the pin relative to the linking member to compress the linkingmember, reducing the diameter of the annular openings and frictionallyengaging the annular pins to lock them against rotation.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the annular pin connected to thehead support comprises two unconnected arcuate segments and wherein themeans connecting the annular pin to the head support is a rod having awidth less than the diameter of the annular pin extending between thetwo segments, the rod pivotally connected to the segments midway betweentheir ends for adjustment of the headrest about the pivotal connection.

3. In a dental chair having a floor support, padded lower body support,arm .supports, head support and adjustable back support, the improvementcomprising providing flexible wing portions extending from the upperterminating edge of the back support down each side to a point adjacentthe rear of each of the arm'supports, allowing a dentist or techniciancloser access to the patient sitting in the chair by deflection of thewing portions and providing an adjustment mechanism for the headsupport, the mechanism comprising:

an elongated linking member having two parallel annular openingsextending therethrough near each end,

slots in the linking member extending from the outer surface thereofinto communication with each of the annular openings, each of the slotsallowing the internal diameter of each of the annular openings to bereduced by compression of the linking member adjacent the slots;

an open-ended channel extending through the linking member essentiallytransverse to the axis of each of the annular openings and communicatingwith the slots and a segment of each of the annular openings;

annular pins received in each of the annular openings, each pin havingan external diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of therespective annular opening in the uncompressed state, allowing freerotation thereof, each pin having a channel extending around the outercircumference thereof;

means connecting one of the annular pins to the head support and theother annular pin to the means for attachment to the back support;

a pin extending through the open-ended channel of the linking membercommunicating with the respective channels in the annular pins to retainthe annular pins in place in the linking member; retaining means at oneend of the pin to retain the pin in place in the open-ended channel; andcam means connected to the opposite end of the pin for exerting tensionon the pin relative to the linking member to compress the linkingmember, reducing the diameter of the annular openings and frictionallyengaging the annular pins to lock them

1. An adjustment mechanism linking a head support and means forattachment to the back support of a chair comprising: an elongatedlinking member having two parallel annular openings extendingtherethrough near each end, slots in the linking member extending fromthe outer surface thereof into communication with each of the annularopenings, each of the slots allowing the internal diameter of each ofthe annular openings to be reduced by compression of the linking memberadjacent the slots; an open-ended channel extending through the linkingmember essentially transverse to the axis of each of the annularopenings and communicating with the slots and a segment of each of theannular openings; annular pins received in each of the annular openings,each pin having an external diameter slightly less than the internaldiameter of the respective annular opening in the uncompressed sTate,allowing free rotation thereof, each pin having a channel extendingaround the outer circumference thereof; means connecting one of theannular pins to the head support and the other annular pin to the meansfor attachment to the back support; a pin extending through theopen-ended channel of the linking member communicating with therespective channels in the annular pins to retain the annular pins inplace in the linking member; retaining means at one end of the pin toretain the pin in place in the open-ended channel; and cam meansconnected to the opposite end of the pin for exerting tension on the pinrelative to the linking member to compress the linking member, reducingthe diameter of the annular openings and frictionally engaging theannular pins to lock them against rotation.
 2. The mechanism of claim 1wherein the annular pin connected to the head support comprises twounconnected arcuate segments and wherein the means connecting theannular pin to the head support is a rod having a width less than thediameter of the annular pin extending between the two segments, the rodpivotally connected to the segments midway between their ends foradjustment of the headrest about the pivotal connection.
 3. In a dentalchair having a floor support, padded lower body support, arm supports,head support and adjustable back support, the improvement comprisingproviding flexible wing portions extending from the upper terminatingedge of the back support down each side to a point adjacent the rear ofeach of the arm supports, allowing a dentist or technician closer accessto the patient sitting in the chair by deflection of the wing portionsand providing an adjustment mechanism for the head support, themechanism comprising: an elongated linking member having two parallelannular openings extending therethrough near each end, slots in thelinking member extending from the outer surface thereof intocommunication with each of the annular openings, each of the slotsallowing the internal diameter of each of the annular openings to bereduced by compression of the linking member adjacent the slots; anopen-ended channel extending through the linking member essentiallytransverse to the axis of each of the annular openings and communicatingwith the slots and a segment of each of the annular openings; annularpins received in each of the annular openings, each pin having anexternal diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of therespective annular opening in the uncompressed state, allowing freerotation thereof, each pin having a channel extending around the outercircumference thereof; means connecting one of the annular pins to thehead support and the other annular pin to the means for attachment tothe back support; a pin extending through the open-ended channel of thelinking member communicating with the respective channels in the annularpins to retain the annular pins in place in the linking member;retaining means at one end of the pin to retain the pin in place in theopen-ended channel; and cam means connected to the opposite end of thepin for exerting tension on the pin relative to the linking member tocompress the linking member, reducing the diameter of the annularopenings and frictionally engaging the annular pins to lock them againstrotation.
 4. The mechanism of claim 3 wherein the annular pin connectedto the head support comprises two unconnected arcuate segments andwherein the means connecting the annular pin to the head support is arod having a width less than the diameter of the annular pin extendingbetween the two segments, the rod pivotally connected to the segmentsmidway between their ends for adjustment of the headrest about thepivotal connection.